MANILA – The damage to agriculture due to the onslaught of tropical storm “Henry,” severe tropical storm “Inday” and tropical depression “Josie” has reached P1.55 billion, the Department of Agriculture said.
The series of three weather disturbances, which battered the country in the past days, has resulted in a total of P1,554,819,087 in damage to rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, livestock, and fisheries.
In its report, the DA said the damages to agriculture left by Henry, Inday, and Josie affected 53,553 farmers and fisherfolk.
“The increase in the overall damages and losses is attributed to reports from the provinces of Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, and Antique; particularly on rice and fisheries,” the Agriculture department said.
Rice remains the most affected commodity with total damages amounting to P1.34 billion or 84 percent of the total losses incurred by the sector, affecting 51,678 farmers in Regions I, III, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and VI.
The production loss in fisheries contributed second to the overall damages in the agriculture sector at 9 percent, amounting to P146.58 million. The damages affected 1,050 fisherfolk in the provinces Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, and Antique.
The affected area has reached 95,246 hectares with volume of production lost at 19,892 metric tons. The number of bags of palay used for seedbeds reportedly washed out stood at 6,755.
Production loss in corn reached P18.89 million affecting 1,431 hectares with an estimated production loss volume of 651 metric tons in the provinces of Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, and Negros Occidental.
The amount of damages in high-value crops stood at P18.66 million with a total of 426 hectares of assorted vegetables affected in the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga. Volume of production loss is at 1,255 metric tons.
Meanwhile, losses incurred in livestock totaled P4.36 million with a total of 6,195 animal heads affected comprised of 4,468 chickens, 1,008 ducks, 263 goats, 341 swines, 68 fighting cocks, 25 cattle, two carabaos in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director and undersecretary Eduardo Gongona on Saturday said the agency is ready to provide fingerlings to fishpond owners affected by the floods.
“Kami ay nagbibigay ng stocking ng fingerling tulad ng tilapia, bangus, and others na kailangan talaga,” he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
Gongona added that DA secretary Manny Piñol will go this weekend to areas that were flooded to see for himself the damage and the assistance that could be offered. (GMA News)
